8 



THE OOLOGIST. 



All these nests were built on twigs 

 either hanging over or very near the 

 ereek. 



One nest Avas built in a bush only a 

 oouple of feet from the ground. | 



In most eases I was attracted to the 

 nest bv the bird eitlier^Hying around or 

 to it. 



I have fifteen nests, three of which 

 are made (Uitirely of willow down and 

 the down from the backs of sycamore 

 leaves. Twelve are composed of the 

 same; but covered with lichens to make 

 the likeness of it and the branch or 

 leaves more complete. 



The nests have spider w^ebs around 

 them and are fastened to the twigs with 

 them. 



The average size of sixteen eggs in 

 my collection is .51 x .33 and a nest 

 measures aliout 1.67 Avide, 1. high and 

 .50 deep in the inside. 



It would be quite difficult to find 

 their nests if it was not that the Hum- 

 mer generally flew around you and 

 then to her nest, or attracted your at- 

 tention in some other way. 



FuED A. Schneider, 

 College Park, California. 



Was it a Cowbird's Nest? 



Having read A. L. Thome's article in 

 Nov. OoLOGiST, I will contribute some 

 notes which I have on that subject. 

 About June 1, 1889, as I was penetrat- 

 ing a thicket similar to that mentioned 

 l)y Mr. Thorne, I heard the scolding 

 voice of the Yellow-breasted Chat a 

 short distance ahead. Upon advancing 

 slowly and as still as possilile, I saw the 

 Chat sitting by the nest and evidently 

 much disturbed by something there. 

 As I approached nearer I discovered a 

 Cowbird sitting near and evidently 

 waiting for a chance to laj' an egg. 

 Upon going to the nest I found it to 

 contain one egg which I left for liuther 

 investigation. Upon going a few feet 

 furtlicr I found a nest of tiie American 



Redstart containing two eggs and one- 

 of the Cowbird's. 



The resemblance between the Cow- 

 bird's egg and the egg in the Chat's- 

 nest was, striking. The only difference 

 being a slight one in the ground color. 

 Of course then I was uncertain whether 

 the egg in the Chat's nest was an egg of 

 the Chat or the CoAvbird. After think- 

 ing I resolved to bloAv them both and 

 keep for study. Upon bloAving them I 

 noticed the yolk of the egg in the Chat's- 

 nest Avas much brighter in color than, 

 that of the egg in the Redstart's nest.' 

 Also that the ground color of one took, 

 on a bluish tint Avhen the yolk w^as. 

 taken out, Avhile the other kept its pink 

 ground color. 



NoAv of course the bird that laid ift 

 the Redstart's nest Avas a CoAvbird, and 

 as the other egg varied as Davie says- 

 eggs of such birds as the Chat, ToAvhee, 

 Oven-bird,' etc., Avill from eggs of the 

 CoAvbird, I checked an egg of the Chat, 

 and since then my experience has- 

 proved this to be a- good test. 



NoAv as Mr. Thome's nest in position 

 and coustmctiou Avould seem to be a. 

 Chat's nest also, is it not probable that- 

 a majority of the eggs Avere those of thc' 

 Chat? 



I tiiink so, and I also think that a. 

 comparison of the yolks Avhen bloAvn. 

 Avould have enabled him to pick out the; 

 CoAvbird's egg if she had left one. 

 Ernest H. Short, 



Cliili, N. Y.. 



And in looking over my Noa-. Oolo- 

 GIST I notice Mr. A. L. Thome's uote^ 

 of the nests and eggs of the Cowbird. 



I should like to make a suggestion in 

 regard to this. As the eggs of the Cow- 

 i)ird often so closel.y resemble those of 

 the Brown Thrasher, and also as the. 

 nest described Avas similar to that o£ 

 the Thrasher, might it ntjt have been a. 

 nest of this bird? 



B. S. BOAVDISH, 



Phelps, N. Y,. 



